EFFECT OF SELF-INSTRUCTION ON KNOWLEDGE OF DIET AND PREDICTION OF DIETARY COMPLIANCE OF HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS.
Contributors: University of Kansas.
Published: 1985
Number of pages: 95
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Nutrition.
Description: It is important for hemodialysis patients to adhere to dietary restriction of sodium and fluid as one means of avoiding fluid overload. Nurses can assist patients by providing education and detecting early dietary non-compliance. This study evaluated the effect of self-instruction on learning from a booklet called, Let's Talk About Sodium and Fluid Restriction in Chronic Renal Failure, and explored a criterion of dietary compliance.

Sixty-one patients were randomly selected from two hemodialysis units and randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group. The sample included 30 females and 31 males. Thirty patients were non-black and 31 patients were black. The average age was 52.06 years, and the average time on dialysis was 45.25 months, ranging from 3 to 133 months. Thirty-nine patients had less than a high school education, 9 had graduated from high school, and 13 had obtained more than a high school education.

A Pretest-Posttest Control Group design was used with administration of the Knowledge of Sodium and Fluid Restriction test. After posttesting, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control and the Home Assistance scales were administered. The predictor variables used to measure a criterion of compliance were knowledge of diet, amount of home assistance, months on dialysis, and the personality trait, health locus of control. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance, chi-square, t-test, and multiple regression analysis procedures.

Findings, significant beyond p < .05, included: (1) higher level of dietary knowledge was associated with poorer dietary compliance, (2) learning occurred regardless of health locus of control, (3) older patients had an external health locus of control due to powerful others, and (4) patients who reported following the prescribed fluid restrictions maintained suggested interdialysis weight gains. Nurses should encourage patient use of the booklet and continue to explore other factors which may be related to dietary non-compliance such as health locus of control.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-10, Section: B, page: 3391.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, 1985.

School code: 0099.